December 15th, 2017

“Our many different cultures notwithstanding, there’s something about the holidays that makes the planet communal. Even nations that do not celebrate Christmas can’t help but be caught up in the collective spirit of their neighbors, as twinkling lights dot the landscape and carols fill the air. It’s an inspiring time of the year.” marlo thomas

When you think about it Christmas gives us an opportunity for reflection. Another year has gone by and next year is full of promise.

Our Delaware Beaches are full of visitors still. It has been so many years when these beaches used roll up their sidewalks on Labor Day. They are true year-round resorts. Shopping local and getting into the Christmas Spirit took me the other day to Wharton’s, located at 19385 Old Landing Rd., Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971. It is by WalMart. Tel. 302-227-0913. Website? www.whartonslandscaping.com

It is a one stop shop at this time of the year. Besides offering landscaping services, Wharton’s has gorgeous Christmas trees, wreaths and everything you can imagine to get your home ready for the holidays.

If you come at the end of the day, Wharton’s is illuminated. From the outdoors you can enter the shop.

Lots of photos on this post because we are so visual, and pictures are worth a thousand words, plus this place is beautiful. Gifts for the entire family, including your pet.

Perfect customer service. Some of you visiting might see some familiar faces.

Inside, the shop is well appointed, displaying a wide variety of home decor.

Having guests over and no time for baking pies? Say no more….A variety of pies that you can bake the night before are ready to go, as well. The Apple Brown Betty was delicious and so was the Chicken Pot Pie.

It is never too late to add something to your holiday shopping….maybe pamper yourself a little. Merry Christmas!!

December 13th, 2015

“Rooted in The Past, Sheltering the Present, Reaching out to the Future, Empowered by the God of the Ages.” Visiting my good friend, Anita, in Bluffton, South Carolina….discovering a new city in the South; Anita took me to this beautiful church. Unfortunately, we could not get inside. It is an Anglican Church. It also 161 years old. Since 1975 The Church of The Cross has been in The National Register of Historic Places.

Magical Sundays I call them….There is something about this day of the week. Some go to church, others put their feet up and read a book. And most probably do nothing at all. They say that 1 in 5 Americans identify themselves as spiritual but not religious. Spirituality is an emotion and soothes. Visiting the churches on my travels bring me peace and it does not matter what denomination they are. They have heard our prayers and our thanksgivings.

One church I fell in love with last February was St. Michael’s Catholic Church located at 71 Broad St. in Historic Charleston. It is a National Historic Landmark. Pewes are made of native cedar and remain the same as they have always been. I visited this church once again last week. The chancel rail is made of wrought iron. It dates to 1772. George Washington worshipped at Governor’s Pew #43.

St. Michael’s Church is one of the few city churches in America that has retained its original design. Last March I wrote a post on this church. If you would like to see it just click on the month of March 2015 on AboutMyBeaches and scroll down to the 8th.

If you get a chance to visit the beautiful churches of Charleston, please do so because they are amazing.

In 1934 as part of the West Side Improvement Project, the High Line opened to trains. It was designed to go through the center of blocks, rather than over the avenue, carrying goods to and from Manhattan’s largest industrial district.

In 2002-2003 the High Line’s preservation and re-use began.

In 2005-2006, the City accepted ownership of the High Line which was donated by CSX. The groundbreaking was celebrated in April, 2006.

On September 21, 2014 the third and northernmost section of the park, the High Line at the Rail Yards, opened to the public, with a celebration for a successful 15 years of advocacy to preserve the entire structure. For more info., please visit http://www.thehighline.org/visit/#/access.

The High Line is open from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. There are public tours on Tuesday and Saturday from May through September. Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday at 10 a.m. The location? Gansevoort St. entrance, on the High Line at Gansevoort St. More info? Please call 212-500-6035.

Along the way you will see the Hudson on one side and the City on the other.

While visiting check the landscaping, and the railroad ties that are still seen and have been preserved on purpose throughout the walk.

It was a little hot last Sunday but you can take your shoes off and cool off.

Plenty of benches to take a break and the trees are now grown, giving shade on hot summer days. You will also find vendors selling cool refreshments….one of my favorites the Shaved Ice or Piraguas as they are called in Puerto Rico

The Mural…Love Is The Answer

You can’t miss it. Portraying Albert Einstein’s literal words. The street art is by Bansky, known for his social and political art commentaries that pop up around NYC.

Come Build With Us…The Collectivity Project will be at the High Line until September 30th from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. This is an installation of 2 tons of white LEGO bricks that features an imaginary cityscape conceived and designed by the public. Visitors are welcomed to play with the installation, building and rebuilding the structures over time. More info? Please visit http://www.art.thehighline.org.

May 28th, 2015

Oxford is one of Maryland’s oldest towns. It was the first and only port-of-entry on the Eastern Shore mandated by the Maryland legislation back in 1694.

Oxford is such a charming town. Sailors, cyclists, kayakers enjoy the scenery and the peace emanating from this quaint town. It is picture perfect and streets are lined with beautifully manicured, elegant and historic homes, framing the banks of the Tred Avon River.

On the road for the day with my friends, the two Debbies, it only took us about an hour and a half from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Our destination was the historic Robert Morris Inn. It is 300 years old!! Located at 314 North Morris Street (Main St.). Tel. 410-226-5111. Websiste? http://www.robertmorrisinn.com. The Inn serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon teas (by reservation) and dinner. It is open year-round.

There are 14 historic bedrooms located on the second and third floors. Adjacent to the Inn they have the Bottle Cottage…..two modern, waterfront rooms.

On this day the temperatures were a little warm but the cool breezes kept us very comfortable. Oxford is very walkable. Park your car, cycles and just walk and enjoy the beautiful town.

Robert Morris was known as the “Financier of The Revolution”. He arrived in Oxford in 1738. President George Washington was a friend. A part of Robert Morris’ residence is incorporated in the Robert Morris Inn.

A little trivia? James Michener outlined his famous novel, Chesapeake, at the Inn.

The Robert Morris Inn has been enlarged several times since its time as a private home. The murals in the dining room were made from wallpaper samples used by manufacturers salesmen, 140 years ago.

The Tavern has a slate floor that came from Vermont. Timber beams, panelled walls and open fires.

This fireplace is from the 1800s and the spot for many to have their photos taken.

It was great to see my friend, Susan Campbell. She joined our small group for an outdoor lunch. Her family owns Campbell Boatyards with 3 locations in Oxford. They are a full service, high quality marine and boat building facility. Please visit http://www.campbellsboatyards.com.

We were looking forward to the offerings of Celebrity Chef, Mark Salter, of Scottish descent.

Spring Pea & Mint Soup with Crispy Shallots was served warm. It had the perfect consistency. The peas paired with mint…a pretty good combination of flavors. I think this soup could also be served chilled in the heat of summer.

The Grilled Asparagus Salad with Panko Crusted Goat Cheese, organic greens, toasted walnuts, dried fig chutney and a blackberry balsamic vinaigrette was a signature salad dish. Perfect for summer and for those trying hard to keep their girlie figures.

Chef Salter is Scottish…so, Fish n’ Chips is another signature dish offered at this time of the year. Battered Cod, buttered peas, remoulade and shoestring fries. It was awesome!! Not in the least greasy!! Light and perfectly seasoned.

An order of the Chicken Salad Sandwich….except no bread, so it became a Chicken Salad entree with lettuce, tomato, celery, red onion, dried cranberries, and toasted almonds. Homemade chips!!

Thanks for such great service and suggestions!!

Friends are the best, and sharing a meal with them is always priceless!! No dessert…..heading towards the Scottish Highland Creamery on Tilghman St.

May 23rd, 2015

Gates have opened and visitors have been arriving since Thursday evening. A beautiful day in Delmarva with blue skies, slightly cool temperatures, and no humidity….So perfect and hard to believe that there is no rain in the forecast for Memorial Day!!

Boardwalks are the center of the coastal towns of Rehoboth Beach, Bethany Beach and Ocean City, Maryland. Early in the a.m. joggers, bikers, walkers….pooches too, are seen enjoying glorious days at the beach.

Hard to believe that the 3 mile long Ocean City Boardwalk, was once rolled up and stored under porches during high tide. Please visit http://www.ococean.com.

Ocean City

Stop by Dolles for some amazing Sea Salt fudge…love it…among other sweet sensations. Every morsel is made in-house.

Summer in Bethany Beach, Delaware, revolves around the Boardwalk. This boardwalk is not as long as the other two, but offers so much to its visitors….entertainment or just the fact that you can take a seat on those iconic benches and look out to the Atlantic Ocean. Please visit http://www.townofbethanybeach.com.

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, is also known as The Nation’s Summer Capital. The award-winning Boardwalk is a mile long. Just make sure that when you get to the end on both sides of the boardwalk you touch the railing….it’s a local’s thing. The entertainment begins on the Boardwalk every week. Check http://www.rehobothbandstand.com

Lucky for the coastal towns that do have boardwalks. They are successful commercial districts and tourist attractions for the whole family.

April 14th, 2015

I never miss an opportunity to see real estate. I guess that went with the territory for many years…my late husband, John, was a Broker and owner of his own real estate company in Bethany Beach. So, when my neighbor, Chris, asked me to go check Sawgrass North I jumped in her car ready to go. Sawgrass North is located at 35546 Betsy Ross Blvd., on Old Landing Rd. in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

Sawgrass North is a Schell Brothers community. It is private, gated, and just by Rehoboth Bay. It has a clubhouse, pool, fitness, tennis and basketball courts. And….lawn maintenance is included.

Meet Adam Pettengell….He is the Community Sales Manager at Sawgrass North. Cel. 302-228-2719. Website? http://www.schellbrothers.com Email: adam@schellbrothers.com. His personality comes through as friendly, knowledgeable about real estate and what he is selling…and most of all a good sense of humor. Even though I could have taken his photo on site, I decided to use the portrait of Adam in the Master Bedroom. With that kind of personality, he can sell anything.

This 3,300 sq.ft. model home was already sold, completely decorated. Schell Brothers has an in-house designer.

The Tour…

The house has beautiful colors. The people that are moving to Sawgrass North are those that are completely new to the Delaware Beaches, and also those that are downsizing…so tired of the up-keep of a much larger home. They want more time to play and less time to spend working on the home.

If you do want to do some business from home, this area is perfect!!

The Kitchen is very open and conducive to entertainment.

The Living Room is spacious. Two views; from the first floor and from the loft area on the second floor.

Master Bedroom, First Floor.

If you would like to dine indoors…love the table and the finished look. Otherwise, outdoors on a beautiful day is the way to go. Outdoor entertainment!!

Upstairs, there are 3 bedrooms and 2 baths. They are beautifully decorated, reminding us that we are at the beach and fresh colors set the moods.

March 29th, 2015

Always look forward to visiting churches on my travels. Not necessarily on a time when religious services are taking place. I like them when they are totally quiet. For me is a time for reflection; to pray for my family and friends. I usually stop at churches of all denominations, even though I am Catholic. I thank for our religious freedom. Historic churches and chapels…I am in awe of their beauty and of their strength.

Here are some of my favorite churches and the list is getting longer.

NEW YORK

St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a New York Landmark. In 1785 there were only 200 Catholics and one priest in New York City. The doors opened in 1879. The newspapers hailed the New Cathedral as “the noblest temple ever raised in any land to the memory of Saint Patrick, and as the glory to Catholic America”. When I have visited New York with my friend, Shelley, who is Jewish…she always makes a point to stop at St. Patrick’s. So beautiful.

St. Paul’s Chapel was built in 1766. It is the oldest public building in continuous use in Manhattan. It survived the Great Fire of 1776 and the attacks on 9/11. George Washington prayed here after his inauguration in 1789. It is located at 209 Broadway, between Fulton St. and Vesey St. Still standing against all odds, this church has been a place not only for spiritual healing but for physical refuge, as well.

PUERTO RICO

I grew up in the Island of Puerto Rico. When you see my posts from there is because that’s where my formative years took place. Old San Juan is the Capital and it is over 500 years old. La Catedral de San Juan is formally known as the San Juan Bautista Cathedral, named after the Puerto Rican Patron Saint, San Juan Bautista or Saint John the Baptist. It is located on Cristo St. between Luna St. and San Francisco St. It was built in 1540 and it is the second oldest cathedral in the Western Hemisphere. The Cathedral contains the tomb of Spanish explorer, Ponce de Leon. And, the mummified remains of Roman Christian Martyr, Saint Pio.

Capilla del Cristo or Christ’s Chapel is located at the end of Calle del Cristo, which is also where the Cathedral is located. The Chapel was built to commemorate a miracle. Local lore has it that as a young man lost control of his horse and galloped down Calle del Cristo over the cliff at the end of the road, he prayed to a Catholic saint and his prayers were answered.

Parroquia San Francisco de Asis is located at San Francisco Street #301 in Old San Juan. The Crypt – As in old colonial churches, the remains of Christians were buried in catacombs. This can also be seen at the entrance of the Parish. They are called catacombs similar to the Roman catacombs but they are crypts. In the crypt are the remains of personalities of Puerto Rico. They are considered of important historical heritage.

Iglesia Dulce Nombre de Jesus is located in the town plaza of Humacao. This is where I grew up. It is on the eastern side of the island. I went to primary school at Academia San Jose which was across the street. My family went to church here, my parents were married in this church, and I also made my First Communion there. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Originally, it was a single structure built in 1769. A second church was built from 1825-1826. The present church was built in 1868-1877. It was designed by Don Evaristo de Churruca in the Gothic Revival style. Further renovations have taken place since then.

Parroquia Nuestra Senora del Carmen is located at 33 Marina, in Punta Santiago near my hometown, Humacao. Punta Santiago is a fishing village. Nuestra Senora del Carmen is the patron saint of Fishermen. The official Feast Day is July 16th. I have fond memories of this church. It is always kept in pristine condition. My late husband, John, and I got married here. We chose this church because it was on the beach and it really is pretty, small and cozy. It was the second wedding….first one in Orlean, Virginia and then this one in 2 complete different years. One was not enough!!

SHOWELL, MARYLAND, EASTERN SHORE

Saint Martin’s Historic Church and the importance of historic preservation. For so many years it stood neglected, just waiting for those who would take over the mission of its restoration. It is considered by many historians “to be the finest preserved, most significant piece of American history on the Lower Eastern Shore”. It is an Architectural gem, built in 1756, and a museum located at 11413 Worcester Highway in Showell, Maryland. For more info., please visit http://www.historicstmartinschurg.org.

LEWES, DELAWARE

St. Peter’s Church is located at 2nd & Market Streets in Historic Lewes, Delaware. Lewes is the First Town in the First State. Since 1680 this church has served this community. The early settlers who were members of the Church of England formed its first congregation. The graveyard which surrounds the Church has stones dating back to 1707. Stop by while strolling Lewes.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

The Baltimore Basilica’s is America’s First Cathedral. I have a deep connection to Baltimore. My late husband was from Baltimore and many years ago, I lived and worked in Baltimore. Love the City. The Basilica’s construction started in 1806. George Weigel, the biographer for Pope John Paul II said “No other Catholic edifice in America can claim to have seen so much history inside its walls”. At least 15 saints or potential saints have prayed in this Basilica. The Crypt inside the Basilica holds the tombs of Archbishop John Carroll, the first Bishop of the United States of America, Archbishop Martin John Spalding, and James Cardinal Gibbons.

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

Philadelphia has 4 Catholic shrines: St John Neumann, St. Katherine Drexel, Miraculous Medal and St. Rita of Cascia. Philadelphia is considered a city where the foundations for our right to freedom and religion were laid. The National Shrine of St. Rita of Cascia is located at 1166 S. Broad St. and it was built in 1907. I came to know it during my stay in Philadelphia the summer of 2013.

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

St. Michael’s Catholic Church is located at 71 Broad St. in Historic Charleston. A National Historic Landmark. Pewes are made of native cedar and remain the same as they have always been. The altar is Victorian. The chancel rail is made of wrought iron. It dates to 1772. George Washington worshipped at Governor’s Pew #43. This church is gorgeous and the docent was so amazingly inspiring.

St. Philip’s Protestan Episcopal Church is located at 142 Church St. in Historic Charleston. The original building was completed in 1724, destroyed by fire in 1835 and finished the rebuilding in 1838. Porticos and columns remind visitors of Roman porticos. This church is also a National Historic Landmark and has the tallest steeple in Historic Charleston. The docent was so nice and proud of her church.

I am looking forward to this list getting longer. These churches welcome us all. Many of them are so simple. Some are architectural wonders. You don’t really have to look for them, some times they find you.

March 22nd, 2015

Everything looked so normal. Just like any other get together at the beach. Going fishing!! Summertime, a time to relax and not to care about a thing…..If it only were that easy. Just for one week it was for the families that came to Bethany Beach, Delaware, for this retreat last year. The women had breast cancer and the journey to the beach was to get away and have fun.

The organization is called Little Pink Houses of Hope founded by Jeanine Patten-Coble. Website? http://www.littlepink.org. The organizers in Bethany Beach were Annie Raskauskas and Stacy Shepps. Annie and Stacy were backed up by the communities of the Delaware Beaches. Big hearts in Southern Delaware.

When these families arrived at the beach their accommodations were all donated by area residents. Besides their accommodations, they had barbecues, crab feasts, dinners, deep sea fishing…the community went all out. Everything for them was free of charge. Breast cancer like many chronic diaseases not only afflicts the person but the whole family.

When they arrived the families did not know one another. When they left they were a united front and a very powerful and emotional thing to see. The following photos are of the last day together having fun….fishing, a picnic, a pig roast, a birthday celebration, games on the beach…meet The Little Pinks and their families.

In the evening…pig roast, birthday celebration and games on the beach.

Then, it was time to say so long.

Party with a PURPOSE will take place on Thursday, March 26th from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at NorthEast Seafood Kitchen located at 29 Atlantic Avenue (Rt. 26) in Ocean View, Delaware. Just a few miles west of Bethany Beach. Tickets ar $40 and will include light fare, cash bar, silent auction and 50/50. The purpose is to raise funds and awareness for Little Pink Houses of Hope. For tickets and info., please call 302-245-2154 or 302-537-9700. Living in Hope…Let’s Fill those Seats!!